Remo Black Dot Heads

[LBCD]

I've seen a couple of videos with these heads lately and it has brought back some great memories. Back in the late 70's and 80's a lot of guys used these heads not just on roto toms but on their snare, toms and kick. I used one on my 14 x 8 Tama Artstar in the late 80's, going back to some old recordings with that set up and the snare sounds great. I'm thinking I might try these on my Parasonics, anyone else using them and what are your thoughts? The video below sounds incredible! If there is a thread on this topic already then feel free to delete.....thanks!

 

[EvEnStEvEn]

I liked 'em in the 70s and I like them now. Great heads with the potential to last for years & can and sound good on almost anything as batters OR resonants.

 

[swarfrat]

I am a huge fan of the CSBD on everything except the bass drum. It makes for a big fat wet slap tom. I need a bit of moon gel though to get anything approaching the sound in the Carter Mclean video. But on the bass drum it sounds supper middy and lacking punch. Maybe because the dot on the 26" is bigger than some folk's bass drums, but whatever the reason I was not a fan.

 

[Seb77]

The Carter McLean video sounds very eq'ed to me. The Drumchannel one of Cindy Blackman is more natural sounding.
I'd say get a 12" or 13" and see how you like it beofre going for a whole set. It's not just a matter of sound, the feel is also different, as well as the dynamic response (both not so great imo).

edit: the 22" bass head sounded good to me, midrangey yes, but with a lot of low-end , too. Needs some extra muffling, at least a felt strip imo.

 

[LBCD]

Thanks for the input! Good idea on one head to start with, I'll get one 14'' for the floor tom and see how it compares to a pinstripe, my go to head on this kit. I can always put it on a snare if it does not work out.

 

[equipmentdork]

I think they are underrated as bass drum heads. I haven't tried them on all my kits, but they sound nice on 3-ply Ludwigs and 5-ply Slingerlands. A different animal.



Dan

 

[swarfrat]

You might say I'm a fan

 

[Joe61]

I've seen a couple of videos with these heads lately and it has brought back some great memories. Back in the late 70's and 80's a lot of guys used these heads not just on roto toms but on their snare, toms and kick. I used one on my 14 x 8 Tama Artstar in the late 80's, going back to some old recordings with that set up and the snare sounds great. I'm thinking I might try these on my Parasonics, anyone else using them and what are your thoughts? The video below sounds incredible! If there is a thread on this topic already then feel free to delete.....thanks!
View attachment 431650

I have in the past 2 weeks changed from pinstripes to black dots on my 13,14,15,and 18" toms. I went from a pinstripe on the snare to a black dot several months back. All of the reso heads are clear ambassadors. The snare sounds more to my liking now.
A little history...up until 2017 I played toms with no reso head. (started drumming in 1970sh). Received may compliments on their sound and honestly, I never learned the the technique of tensioning a drum until installing reso heads. My goal is to find the half way point between the concert sound and double head sound. I am getting close. The sound of the toms in the video is awesome. I would jump through a flaming hoop to find out the tensioning specs of those drums. The results of my black dots has mostly been positive. I have many tuning schemes yet to try. Including unique damping technique on both batter and reso heads. It is all personal preference of course. I do like the black dots.

 

[GeeDeeEmm]

I used them for a while in the 1980s until switching to Pin Stripes, which don't sound as plastic(y) to me. I haven't heard them in years, though, so they probably sound better now.

Since then I've returned to coated Ambassadors for my high toms and coated Emperors for the floor toms. I just can't get away from that sound.

GeeDeeEmm

 

[Treviso1]

I've seen a couple of videos with these heads lately and it has brought back some great memories. Back in the late 70's and 80's a lot of guys used these heads not just on roto toms but on their snare, toms and kick. I used one on my 14 x 8 Tama Artstar in the late 80's, going back to some old recordings with that set up and the snare sounds great. I'm thinking I might try these on my Parasonics, anyone else using them and what are your thoughts? The video below sounds incredible! If there is a thread on this topic already then feel free to delete.....thanks!
View attachment 431650

Those drums with the black dot Remo heads sound killer!

 

[Ron_M]

Heads are all about experimentation.

I had an old ludwig marcher, 10x28, that had a silver dot on it. It sounded fantastic. Lots of boom, and the dot gave it a nice attack. Thought, "This is great", and bought a dotted head for my Tempus 20" bass. Did not sound great. Tried it on my 20" Slingy. Sounded like garbage.

Listening to generalities about heads is not a bad thing, but there's really only one way to know.

 

[fun2drum]

I think they're the best heads by far for Vistalite toms, and not too shabby for everything else I've had them on. I've been thinking I might pick some up for when my Maple Cortex set needs a change. They go great with an Evans Emad single ply bass head.

 

[Drums]

Charlie! Watts, that is.

 

[swarfrat]

Heads are all about experimentation.

Listening to generalities about heads is not a bad thing, but there's really only one way to know.

Yep, spend a bunch of money. New heads top and bottom costs more than most used mid priced kits. The discussion, rough as it may be, is immensely helpful. At $45/pop I don't like messing around too much on my bass drum.

 

[TheDrummerFromAmsterdam]

When the Evans are worn out the toms will get the CS heads too. Already have them in stock.

Love that warm, deep thuddy sound.

And it will accent the characteristics of the Maple/Mahogany.

 

[JazzDrumGuy]

You might say I'm a fan

What type of kit is that? I'd love to see a closeup of the 2 color FT's....nice!

 

[JazzDrumGuy]

I used to play a 20" bass and the batter side was a clear black dot - it was punchy and worked great both in bands and in the studio. Now I really don't play the dot, but I have a Charlie Watts Gretsch tribute kit I've been working on and have the dot heads ready to go! On the snare, the head gives a real open "wet" type of sound, with a higher pitched snare wire sound.....it works on certain drums.

 

[swarfrat]

That is a Gretsch Catalina 13/16/18/26 kit. With an add on Maple 10/12/14. I haven't wrapped the 10 and 14 yet, and will probably sell them separately when it goes. Snare is a Pearl Wood/Fiberglass 6.5x15.

Come to think of it, maybe the best way to sell this kit is grab a 20 and sell the 10/12/14 with it as one kit and the 13/16/18/26 as another kit. Hmmm

 

[Ron_M]

Yep, spend a bunch of money. New heads top and bottom costs more than most used mid priced kits. The discussion, rough as it may be, is immensely helpful. At $45/pop I don't like messing around too much on my bass drum.

Agreed. It really hurts with bass heads. I had an Aquarian force one (like a PS3) 20" bass head as a reso, thought it was too muffled. I cut that muffle ring off; now I have a nice single-ply reso without having to spend the cash.

I've got to try a CS batter on my 12" to see what they're like. That's one I've never used; I did have silver dots on my old MJ kit in the 70s. Doesn't count, though. Too long ago.

 

[Davo]

On my Fullerton Rogers set